[coverattach=1]BROWNSBURG, Ind. (April 7, 2009) - Veteran motor sports engineer and aerodynamicist Terry DeKoninck has been hired as the team engineer for Mike Ashley Racing (MAR) it was announced today. The Michigan native will work closely with crew chiefs Brian Corradi and Mark Oswald on the Matco Tools dragster and future racing projects at MAR.
In his new role, DeKoninck, 42, will support in failure analysis, product life management, component design, data analysis, and mechanical engineering projects. He previously spent nine years as a project engineer and senior aerodynamicist with Dodge Motorsports where he directed the development of the Avenger, Stratus and Charger Funny Car bodies used in NHRA Funny Car competition. He also managed the design of the Neon and Stratus Pro Stock cars and the Dakota Pro Stock Truck. He currently operates Aerospeed Solutions, an automotive, aerodynamic and motorsports engineering firm located in Clarkston Mich.
"I'm extremely excited to be joining such a high-caliber race team," DeKoninck said. "I've worked with both Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) in the past and there is a lot of talent on this race team. I really believe they can challenge for the Top Fuel championship this season. If we can help prevent some of the little things that stop teams from winning rounds, there's no reason this Matco dragster shouldn't fight for the championship all season long."
DeKoninck graduated from the Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in 1998 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Along with working for Dodge, he also spent three years with the Dana Corporation. A longtime drag racer, DeKoninck played a crucial role in the aerodynamic development of "Blowfish," a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda that was named Hot Rod Magazine Hot Rod of the Year in 2007. He also worked on Wayne Jesel's world's fastest pick-up truck. Both vehicles set Southern California Time Association (SCTA) land speed records. Race cars that DeKoninck helped engineer have won numerous NHRA races and set multiple elapsed time and speed records in NHRA competition.
"I hope I can bring a little different perspective from an engineering standpoint to help develop some unique components for the race car and increase the range of life on some of the crucial parts," DeKoninck said. "A dragster is obviously different from a Funny Car in the aeordynamic department, but they run the same engine and I'm ready for this unique challenge and to help this team expand down the road."
"I've known Terry (DeKoninck) for a long time going back to my days with Mopar and Dean Skuza's car," Corradi added. "Terry is very sharp and is a vital piece to compiling a championship race team here with Mike Ashley Racing. Terry will bring an immediate impact to this team with his wealth of knowledge in many different areas including research and development."
Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV, BeepBeep.com, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.
Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at HEAL! Healing Every Autistic Life : Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
In his new role, DeKoninck, 42, will support in failure analysis, product life management, component design, data analysis, and mechanical engineering projects. He previously spent nine years as a project engineer and senior aerodynamicist with Dodge Motorsports where he directed the development of the Avenger, Stratus and Charger Funny Car bodies used in NHRA Funny Car competition. He also managed the design of the Neon and Stratus Pro Stock cars and the Dakota Pro Stock Truck. He currently operates Aerospeed Solutions, an automotive, aerodynamic and motorsports engineering firm located in Clarkston Mich.
"I'm extremely excited to be joining such a high-caliber race team," DeKoninck said. "I've worked with both Brian (Corradi) and Mark (Oswald) in the past and there is a lot of talent on this race team. I really believe they can challenge for the Top Fuel championship this season. If we can help prevent some of the little things that stop teams from winning rounds, there's no reason this Matco dragster shouldn't fight for the championship all season long."
DeKoninck graduated from the Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo in 1998 with a degree in mechanical engineering. Along with working for Dodge, he also spent three years with the Dana Corporation. A longtime drag racer, DeKoninck played a crucial role in the aerodynamic development of "Blowfish," a 1969 Plymouth Barracuda that was named Hot Rod Magazine Hot Rod of the Year in 2007. He also worked on Wayne Jesel's world's fastest pick-up truck. Both vehicles set Southern California Time Association (SCTA) land speed records. Race cars that DeKoninck helped engineer have won numerous NHRA races and set multiple elapsed time and speed records in NHRA competition.
"I hope I can bring a little different perspective from an engineering standpoint to help develop some unique components for the race car and increase the range of life on some of the crucial parts," DeKoninck said. "A dragster is obviously different from a Funny Car in the aeordynamic department, but they run the same engine and I'm ready for this unique challenge and to help this team expand down the road."
"I've known Terry (DeKoninck) for a long time going back to my days with Mopar and Dean Skuza's car," Corradi added. "Terry is very sharp and is a vital piece to compiling a championship race team here with Mike Ashley Racing. Terry will bring an immediate impact to this team with his wealth of knowledge in many different areas including research and development."
Headquartered in Brownsburg, Ind., Mike Ashley Racing fields the Matco Tools Top Fuel dragster driven by Antron Brown. MAR proudly represents racing partners Matco Tools, Lend America, DirecTV, BeepBeep.com, Toyota, DataDot USA, Ringer's Gloves, Go Fast Sports, Goodyear, FRAM, Autolite, Suzuki, Connexions Sports and Entertainment, and Forward Sports Marketing.
Mike Ashley Racing supports Autism Awareness through their support of the Hyperbaric Therapy Center. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report found that 1 in 150 children in America today have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and an estimated 1.5 million Americans and their families are now affected. Autism is a national health crisis, and Mike Ashley Racing is working to help educate the public about ways they can get involved. Visit the Heal Autism Now website for more information about how you can get involved at HEAL! Healing Every Autistic Life : Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
